1. Glossary
aerobic occurring with oxygen
alactacid source a phosphocreatine source in muscle and nerve tissue, of high energy
phosphate bonds
anabolic describing the formation of complex molecules from simpler ones
anaerobic occurring without oxygen
athleticism describing the characteristics that were attributed to the experience of
playing competitive sport in nineteenth-century public schools
(characteristics that included manliness, a sense of fair play, leadership and
bravery)
ATP abbreviation for adenosine triphosphate, an energy rich molecule
basal metabolic the rate at which calories are burned
rate (BMR)
blood pressure the force exerted by your blood within the arteries
bradycardia a resting heart rate below 60 beats per minute
cardiac output (Q) the amount of blood pumped out by the heart / left ventricle in one
minute = stroke volume (SV) x Beats per minute (HR)
catabolic describing the breakdown of complex molecules to form simpler ones
condyle the knuckle of any joint
diffusion the movement of gases from one area to another. They will invariably move
from an area of high pressure to one of low pressure
discrimination unfair treatment (to an individual or group) which results in their access to
sport and recreation being inhibited
diuretic a substance that has the effect of increasing urination
DOMS (delayed post-exercise muscular soreness caused by the healing process of
onset muscle damaged myofibrils
soreness)
doping taking drugs in order to enhance sporting performance
electrolyte a mineral soluble in body fluids and associated with cell membrane
electrical potential. The main ones are sodium, potassium and chloride
end diastolic the volume of blood in the ventricle when finished filling
volume
end systolic the volume of blood remaining in the ventricle after contraction
volume
© Owned by or under licence to Pearson Education Limited 2008 1

2. expiration breathing out
fitness for purpose a judgement on an individual’s ability to meet the physical and mental
demands of a particular sport or physical activity
Fosbury flop a high jump technique developed by Dick Fosbury (1968 Olympic Gold
Medal winner)
glycogen a substance (polysaccharide) deposited in body tissues as a store of
carbohydrates
HDL (high density a lipoprotein which has more protein in relation to fat (good cholesterol)
lipoprotein)
health-related fitness a basic level of physical fitness components which facilitate a good level
of health
hyperglycemia too much glucose in the blood
hypoglycemia too little glucose in the blood for normal bodily function
hypokinetic disorder a disorder that is totally or partly attributed to a lack of physical activity
inspiration breathing in
International Olympic the governing body for the Olympic movement
Committee (IOC)
invasion game a game where players seek to avoid one another in order to score
Karnoven Principle a way of calculating a training zone based on exercise intensity related
to maximal heart rate. An athlete’s critical threshold THR = RHR + (HRR
x 0.6) where HRR = MHR - RHR and 0.6 is 60 per cent intensity
LDL (low density a lipoprotein which has less protein in relation to fat (bad cholesterol)
lipoprotein)
motor skill (or an organised co-ordinated activity in relation to an object or situation
psychomotor skill) which involves a whole chain of sensory, central and motor mechanisms
myoglobin the oxygen-binding pigment in muscle
notation a recording system that employs notes or symbols to record situations,
events or points of action on individuals or teams during a performance.
Notation was originally used by biomechanics sports scientists
objectivity an opinion or study based on fact and evidence and free from personal,
emotional distortions or biases of a subjective nature. Examples in
terms of human performance could be the fastest sprinter of all time as
decided by accurate timing technology or the use of ‘Hawkeye’ as
opposed the human eye when deciding if a ball is either in or out in
tennis. National Governing Body information on participation levels and
facility provisions can be taken as ‘fact’
2 © Owned by or under licence to Pearson Education Limited 2008

3. partial pressure the pressure exerted by a gas within a mixture of gasses
phosphagen energy storage compounds, found mainly in muscle tissue as a reserve
of high-energy phosphate bonds
plagiarism claiming someone else’s work as your own
plaque a raised region of tissue resulting from deposits of ‘bad’ cholesterol
pre-industrial society (in the UK) the period of time before the Industrial Revolution, in the
second half of the eighteenth century and the first half of the nineteenth
century
pressure gradient the relative differences between the pressure within two adjacent areas
principle of play a rule that guides how you perform. It provides shape and structure to a
performance either as an individual or as a team
programming specific sessions and times in a sports facility provided for particular
target groups
pubic school a private, independent, fee-paying school
rational sport sport with set rules and national organisation
real time seeing or viewing something as it happens with no facility to stop the
action
respiration the act of creating energy aerobically
rhEPO the hormone (erythroprotein) that stimulates red blood cell production
sedentary lifestyle a lifestyle that is predominantly lacking in physical activity
self-fulfilling prophecy a state where people believe a stereotypical view and take on the
appointed characteristics
shamateurism describing the custom of pre-1990 athletes who were amateur but
received unofficial payments in the form of either commercial
scholarships or state bursaries
skill repertoire a range of skills that can be performed proficiently, autonomously and
whenever called upon: they form the basis of the performance
spectatorism sport as a spectacle where people pay to watch
stereotype a widely held series of characteristics or traits, often oversimplified,
about individuals or certain groups in society
strategy the more general or overall game plan employed by a coach
stroke volume (SV) the volume of blood ejected into the aorta per beat measured in litres.
Stroke volume = end diastolic volume – end systolic volume
© Owned by or under licence to Pearson Education Limited 2008 3

4. subjectivity an opinion or study based on personal feelings, interests and
prejudices. An example would be how good a performer you think you
are or which person you think is the best in your centre in a particular
sport
sub-routine a separate technical instruction at various points through a movement
synovial describing a joint that is surrounded by a tough membrane, such as the
knee
tactics the detailed instructions or plans of action you employ to overcome an
opponent or opponents
target group a population group that find it difficult to access sport and recreation
thermoregulation the process of keeping the internal environment of the body at an
acceptable temperature
training the ability to construct a programme to enhance proficiency in a skill, to
improve physical fitness or fitness for purpose and thereby prepare the
performer for participation
type I muscle fibres slow-twitch fibres, or type I fibres, are suited to aerobic endurance type
activities (low intensity, long duration) as they have a slower contraction
time
type II muscle fibres fast-twitch fibres, or type II fibres are suited to high-intensity anaerobic
exercise (maximal intensity, short duration)
venous return the amount of blood returned to the heart / right atrium per minute
ventilation the act of breathing
VO2 maximum the highest rate at which oxygen can be taken up and used
4 © Owned by or under licence to Pearson Education Limited 2008